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Activision Blizzard Sued By California Over ‘Frat Boy’ Culture

nush

Member
Why? This in 2013, before Hannibal Burress' viral comedy bit that mainstreamed knowledge of the Cosby accusations and everything else in the Kotaku article is just evidence of people partying in a hotel during a convention and talking about getting laid in a group chat.

Cosby was one of those open secrets that everybody knew, just Like Jimmy Saville where only after his death did people come out and talk about it. Hannibal Burress just said what was already known.
 
Cosby was one of those open secrets that everybody knew, just Like Jimmy Saville where only after his death did people come out and talk about it. Hannibal Burress just said what was already known.
Who's "everybody?" Everybody in the entertainment industry or your average mainstream civilian? Because, no, "everybody" didn't know about the Cosby allegations before the viral bit. The shock of it is was the big reason it went viral, because for most people this was their first time hearing about it.
 
wtf man

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nush

Member
Who's "everybody?" Everybody in the entertainment industry or your average mainstream civilian? Because, no, "everybody" didn't know about the Cosby allegations before the viral bit. The shock of it is was the big reason it went viral, because for most people this was their first time hearing about it.
 

RafterXL

Member
That stuff might be able to distract from the usual kind of corporate bull crap, but Bobby Kotick could come out and give a press conference in a designer rainbow 3 piece suit and it's still wouldn't be able to distract the media away from the fact that a large portion of his company has been mistreating women and sexually harassing them.


There is no get out of jail free card for that.
Sure there is, it's called Diablo 2 Resurrected. And let's just be honest, the only thing that hurts these game companies are bad games. Insomniac games are still selling through the roof. No one even gives a shit about Naughty Dogs nonsense. Ubisoft is still chugging along just fine. Riot has one of these things pop up every few months and Blizzard played CCP puppet in 2019 and that hurt them for a whopping couple of weeks. Chinas atrocities are FAR worse than anything here.

This will last longer because court cases drag out, but if WoW, Overwatch and Diablo were even a shadow of what they were at the height of their popularity, the vast majority of people shiting on Blizzard now would be twisting themselves into knots to defend still playing their games. It's easy to go all boycott mode when they haven't released anything worth playing in years.

Most of the outrage is performative nonsense that's about as genuine as that former composer who got laid off acting like he cares about women instead of just being a bitter fuck because he got axed.
 

CGiRanger

Banned
Sure there is, it's called Diablo 2 Resurrected. And let's just be honest, the only thing that hurts these game companies are bad games. Insomniac games are still selling through the roof. No one even gives a shit about Naughty Dogs nonsense. Ubisoft is still chugging along just fine. Riot has one of these things pop up every few months and Blizzard played CCP puppet in 2019 and that hurt them for a whopping couple of weeks. Chinas atrocities are FAR worse than anything here.

This will last longer because court cases drag out, but if WoW, Overwatch and Diablo were even a shadow of what they were at the height of their popularity, the vast majority of people shiting on Blizzard now would be twisting themselves into knots to defend still playing their games. It's easy to go all boycott mode when they haven't released anything worth playing in years.

Most of the outrage is performative nonsense that's about as genuine as that former composer who got laid off acting like he cares about women instead of just being a bitter fuck because he got axed.
I think part of this that is definitely twisting Blizzard up more is the bad timing. Blizzard has gone through some very rough public debacles in recent years, from Blitzchung to Asmongold not too long ago. And yeah, they've not had a good release in a while, with the most recent one being the horrendous Warcraft 3 "Remake" that was a disaster, and how WoW itself just seems like it's not producing quality updates anymore as well.

Diablo 2 resurrected from everything shown of it seems like it'll be a surefire success. While there'll be many vocal people online who'll boycott, I'm sure the average gamer will not. Even those upset at the corporate issues of ActiBlizzard may still purchase it to not punish the regular employees.
 
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If you think this makes your point actually elaborate, don't just drop a link and bounce.

I'm well aware the allegations go back to 04. That says nothing of the level of mainstream awareness of them. The fact that this timeline of notable events and public commentary dead stops from 06 until Burress' viral bit in '14, actually makes my point. This was not big news before then.

There's a reason the conversation in 2014 was "Now that you know, can you still watch Cosby's TV shows and comedy?" That's because most people didn't know. The same reason Dave Chapelle did his god tier "he rapes but he saves" bit about finding out that his lifelong hero is a serial rapist along with most other people in 2014. Shit, it's even the #MeToo narrative that the accusers were ignored in the mainstream until given the ability to have a social media megaphone years later. Everyone understands the Cosby allegations broke big in 2014.
 

Nobody_Important

“Aww, it’s so...average,” she said to him in a cold brick of passion
I'm curious. What do people think about banning booze on the premises of work (for game AND tech companies?)

I personally feel it's a blatant risk having alcohol on the premises of work. Is there a good reason for it?
I'd be all for this. To me there is no reason to have alcohol in a work environment or at officially sanctioned work events.


You are just asking for trouble.
 

RafterXL

Member
I'd be all for this. To me there is no reason to have alcohol in a work environment or at officially sanctioned work events.


You are just asking for trouble.
If you don't have a shit culture, alcohol at work functions isn't a big deal. My old company had events all the time with alcohol being served and never had an issue with people being fools. The problem with these tech companies is that they are majority young, male and immature.

It is funny how attitudes have changed, though. 1996 E3 Sony had a two story bar that spanned half the convention center and everyone thought it was amazing. Today they'd be raked through the coals for even attempting it. People also don't wanna know the stories of what went on, and still does, at most of these conventions after hours if people think the Cosby room is a big deal.
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
People also don't wanna know the stories of what went on, and still does, at most of these conventions after hours if people think the Cosby room is a big deal.
Thats the thing.

People in modern day have this high almighty cancel culture where something bad is in public view, and they latch onto it thinking they are all saints. There's a million companies out there who surely have dumb shit that goes on behind closed door party meetings or get sued for whatever reason. Fuck, didnt IBM make early era computers for Germany in WWII?

But since it's not in their face like Twitter loudmouth gaming industry, they have tunnel vision and think all other companies are saints too.

If someone digs through the net or law books, just about every large company has surely been sued for something. But what is someone going to do? Ignore every company in life? The reason why people dont know all the party animal stuff that goes on in other companies is because they dont have whiney loose lips like gaming employees.

People have this stereotypical assumption that if there's a party going on, the guys are the perverted drunks and all the women sit at the table prim and proper. Trust me, women love to party too. And from personal experience, they like hitting strip joints just like the guys. And the lesbians/bi ones go into the back room with dancers too.
 
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Nobody_Important

“Aww, it’s so...average,” she said to him in a cold brick of passion
If you don't have a shit culture, alcohol at work functions isn't a big deal. My old company had events all the time with alcohol being served and never had an issue with people being fools. The problem with these tech companies is that they are majority young, male and immature.

It is funny how attitudes have changed, though. 1996 E3 Sony had a two story bar that spanned half the convention center and everyone thought it was amazing. Today they'd be raked through the coals for even attempting it. People also don't wanna know the stories of what went on, and still does, at most of these conventions after hours if people think the Cosby room is a big deal.
I don't understand. Are you saying the "Cosby Suite" that Blizzard had was okay just because other people had similar things? I don't get where you are coming from.
 
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Nobody_Important

“Aww, it’s so...average,” she said to him in a cold brick of passion
Thats the thing.

People in modern day have this high almighty cancel culture where something bad is in public view, and they latch onto it thinking they are all saints. There's a million companies out there who surely have dumb shit that goes on behind closed door party meetings or get sued for whatever reason. Fuck, didnt IBM make early era computers for Germany in WWII?

But since it's not in their face like Twitter loudmouth gaming industry, they have tunnel vision and think all other companies are saints too.

If someone digs through the net or law books, just about every large company has surely been sued for something. But what is someone going to do? Ignore every company in life? The reason why people dont know all the party animal stuff that goes on in other companies is because they dont have whiney loose lips like gaming employees.

People have this stereotypical assumption that if there's a party going on, the guys are the perverted drunks and all the women sit at the table prim and proper. Trust me, women love to party too. And from personal experience, they like hitting strip joints just like the guys. And the lesbians/bi ones go into the back room with dancers too.
Well that is certainly a take. What the fuck? I feel like I am taking crazy pills.


Shit like that is not okay just because "women like to party too". Unprofessional is unprofessional no matter who is involved. You don't go to the fucking strip club or get shit faced in hotel rooms with your co-workers on anything that remotely resembles a regular basis. You just don't. Not only is it unprofessional, but it is just asking for problems and harassment of some kind. And on top of that you sure as SHIT don't talk about all of your unprofessional behavior in a goddamn group chat.


The fact that other companies might have this happen now/had it happen in the past or that women are participating does not excuse literally any of this. That is not how it works and I feel like I should not have to explain that.
 
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nush

Member
Well that is certainly a take. What the fuck? I feel like I am taking crazy pills.


Shit like that is not okay just because "women like to party too". Unprofessional is unprofessional no matter who is involved. You don't go to the fucking strip club or get shit faced in hotel rooms with your co-workers on anything that remotely resembles a regular basis. You just don't. Not only is it unprofessional, but it is just asking for problems and harassment of some kind.


The fact that other companies might have this happen now/had it happen in the past or that women are participating does not excuse literally any of this. That is not how it works and I feel like I should not have to explain that.

See this is why you'd never get invited to boys club.

simpsons-640x360.jpg
 
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StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
Well that is certainly a take. What the fuck? I feel like I am taking crazy pills.


Shit like that is not okay just because "women like to party too". Unprofessional is unprofessional no matter who is involved. You don't go to the fucking strip club or get shit faced in hotel rooms with your co-workers on anything that remotely resembles a regular basis. You just don't. Not only is it unprofessional, but it is just asking for problems and harassment of some kind.
Where did I say its a-ok to get drunk and hit rippers? I'm just saying its not just guys who do it. And people should be weary of accusations. Like the cube crawl which at first mention seemed like guys were crawling around like it's pervert city at the office. Then Shmunter said an insider mentioned it was a goofy co-ed game. Who's right? We'll have to wait and see. Those two descriptions of a cube crawl are totally different context.

Dont believe everything you read or hear, especially when it involves accusations. Wait for the investigation.

And people latching on to issues like this thinking they are all saints themselves, should look in the mirror or check out other companies. Because if some people are going ape shit complaining about Activision/Blizzard and boycotting etc.... you better be ready to boycott lots of companies.
 
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Nobody_Important

“Aww, it’s so...average,” she said to him in a cold brick of passion
See this is why you'd never get invited to boys club.
I was in a boys club in highschool. I was one of these knobs when I was younger. But unlike them I grew up and realized that I was a dumbass. And that seems to be what has happened here. You have abunch of horny nerds who never grew up that got put into positions of power. And look what happened. You get a bunch of horn dogs behaving like morons and literally writing down their dumbassery for all the world to see.


All of this should be a wake-up call to the Industry. I hope this causes everyone to step back and say "wait what are we doing?".
 
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StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
See this is why you'd never get invited to boys club.

simpsons-640x360.jpg
LOL. There's some people who always get invited to lunches and parties. And there's some who never get invited.

I'm always involved. Fuck, I've even lent money to coworkers visiting from a foreign country at a rippers. The rookie ran out of money! Guy was like Robin Hood and couldnt say no. Every stripper there had a bullseye on his head. LOL. And damn right, he paid me back later!
 
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D

Deleted member 17706

Unconfirmed Member
I don't understand. Are you saying the "Cosby Suite" that Blizzard had was okay just because other people had similar things? I don't get where you are coming from.

It's obviously unacceptable by 2021 Internet Tribunal standards and not something I personally would have participated in, but did they do anything illegal?
 
Oh and before people are lauding Kotick's response, well yeah...

The dispute stemmed from a January 2007 lawsuit brought by flight attendant Cynthia Madvig against Kotick, Andrew Gordon of Goldman Sachs, Cove Management, the company the pair created to manage their co-owned Gulfstream III private jet, and pilot Phil Berg.

Madvig alleged sexual harassment and wrongful termination. She allegedly refused to be Berg's "arm candy" at dinners and other events. The lawsuit said that Berg compelled her to clean the plane's toilets repeatedly while "leering" at her.

She claimed that after complaining, she was fired by Kotick, who allegedly told her: "The guys are unhappy with the hostile environment."

Kotick's then lawyer Patricia Glaser advised him to settle for $200,000 to $400,000 – much less than it would cost to argue the toss in court. Kotick disagreed.

According to the arbitrator, "Mr. Kotick wanted to destroy the other side and not to pay Ms. Madvig anything.... Mr. Kotick realised this was not a good business proposition, but said 'that he was worth one-half billion dollars and he didn't mind spending some of it on attorneys' fees.' "

Also this:

n3lNdnL.jpg
 
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RafterXL

Member
I don't understand. Are you saying the "Cosby Suite" that Blizzard had was okay just because other people had similar things? I don't get where you are coming from.

I'm saying it's tame in comparison to what I've personally witnessed and heard about at other conventions and conferences. The only thing that makes this news worthy is that it's Blizzard.

And, frankly outside of the questionable naming of the room and photo, there's nothing noteworthy about a bunch of dudes trying to get groupies to their room for sex. It's not exactly illegal, uncommon, or even a real story. If it's consensual, who cares?

As to your point about not drinking or hitting strip clubs with your co-workers, really? Says who? At Siemens every time guys from our German offices came into town that's the first thing they wanted to do, so we'd take them to strip clubs and let them get shit faced. There's nothing wrong with showing people a good time and so long as no one is getting hurt who cares?

Is it just me or has the current generation basically come full circle and become the puratinical prudes we all used to make fun of?
 

CGiRanger

Banned
Is it just me or has the current generation basically come full circle and become the puratinical prudes we all used to make fun of?
Hypocritical prudes to be certain overall. You can bet your ass the so-called prudes you speak of themselves have serious skeletons in their closet, especially the more vociferous ones (aka. PROJECTION"), and that this is just a means for control and getting what they want for themselves.
 

Nobody_Important

“Aww, it’s so...average,” she said to him in a cold brick of passion
And, frankly outside of the questionable naming of the room and photo, there's nothing noteworthy about a bunch of dudes trying to get groupies to their room for sex.
Stopped reading there. You can believe that if you want but there is all kinds of problems with that. Especially if alcohol is involved.


If don't see the problem then we don't need to continue this discussion.
 

CGiRanger

Banned
No, just the miserable no-life fucks that live on Twitter that have become the old church ladies.
Yep, those were the ones who'd of course be the "gossip gossip gossip" types spreading rumors and whatnot. Except now, the internet enables them to spread it everywhere and do so instantly.
 

Singular7

Member
Once you drive the good men out, you're left with the bad men, and the bad men will always end up ruling.

Feminism is the fast-path to the bad men, as the natural order is overturned.

Men giving in to their dopey physical lusts en masse is the fast path the feminism.

Porn, dumb sexual obsessions, physical thinking, etc.


Do you see the conundrum here for you supposedly enlightened modernists?

The only solution is upstanding men who shame the bad men that give in to their lusts, and have families that create similar thinking children.

"Pillars of Society" (think about it, modernist)

Probably too complex for a gaming forum :messenger_tears_of_joy:

Poor Blizzard, a victim of society.
 
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RafterXL

Member
Once you drive the good men out, you're left with the bad men, and the bad men will always end up ruling.

Feminism is the fast-path to the bad men.

Men giving in to their dopey physical lusts en masse is the fast path the feminism.

Porn, dumb sexual obsessions, physical thinking, etc.


Do you see the conundrum here for you supposedly enlightened modernists?

The only solution is upstanding men who shame the bad men that give in to their lusts, and have families that create similar thinking children.

"Pillars of Society" (think about it, modernist)

Probably too complex for a gaming forum :messenger_tears_of_joy:
Easy there Footloose, you gonna outlaw dancing while you're at it?

What do you fuckers have against sex, other than you don't get any?
 

Singular7

Member
Easy there Footloose, you gonna outlaw dancing while you're at it?

What do you fuckers have against sex, other than you don't get any?

Married, with children.

As stated: too complex for a gaming forum.

Re-read it and respond specifically to the mechanisms at play.

I have no problems with drugs, sex, or rock and roll.

Think more deeply, sparky.

The death of blizzard is a natural occurrence because the bad men took over, because feminism, because bad men.
 
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Singular7

Member
"Complex" isn't the word I'd choose to describe the shit you just pooped out onto this thread.

Terrible counter-argument.

Greek fallacy, blah blah. Next? :messenger_smiling_with_eyes:

Blizzard == our society. (I'm convinced half the internet is just porn obsessed teens trying to defend their shame)
 
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Nobody_Important

“Aww, it’s so...average,” she said to him in a cold brick of passion
Once you drive the good men out, you're left with the bad men, and the bad men will always end up ruling.

Feminism is the fast-path to the bad men, as the natural order is overturned.

Men giving in to their dopey physical lusts en masse is the fast path the feminism.

Porn, dumb sexual obsessions, physical thinking, etc.


Do you see the conundrum here for you supposedly enlightened modernists?

The only solution is upstanding men who shame the bad men that give in to their lusts, and have families that create similar thinking children.

"Pillars of Society" (think about it, modernist)

Probably too complex for a gaming forum :messenger_tears_of_joy:

Poor Blizzard, a victim of society.
The main offender according to the lawsuit was with the company going all the way back to Vanilla WoW and the whole "Cosby Suite" thing goes as far back as 2013.


This is just blizzard. The only thing that has changed apparently is that it has all come to light.
 

Singular7

Member
The main offender according to the lawsuit was with the company going all the way back to Vanilla WoW and the whole "Cosby Suite" thing goes as far back as 2013.


This is just blizzard. The only thing that has changed apparently is that it has all come to light.

Which it always does right my friend?

We are all dealing with the push/pull of moral choices.

Blizzard is just echoing the cult-ure around them.

"shocking"
 
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Singular7

Member

OK, roll your eyes.

Do humans not learn from their environment? Do they learn from what they are shown and told?

I have kids. I know the answer.

If you raise a child to think of a woman as an object, what sort of man does that society produce?

Blizzard IS the USA and all it teaches in current form. Just a reflection of random American Pie X on Netflix.

Want something different? Teach kids a moral system beyond monkey men watching pron.

The comedy of the outrage about Blizzard..... truly. Nobody is thinking anymore. Nobody important.

Roman history and Plato should be required reading, Idiocracy required viewing. (imo)
 
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Nobody_Important

“Aww, it’s so...average,” she said to him in a cold brick of passion
OK, roll your eyes.

Do humans not learn from their environment? Do they learn from what they are shown and told?

I have kids. I know the answer.

If you raise a child to think of a woman as an object, what sort of man does that society produce?

Blizzard IS the USA and all it teaches in current form. Just a reflection of random American Pie X on Netflix.

Want something different? Teach kids a moral system beyond monkey men watching pron.

The comedy of the outrage about Blizzard..... truly. Nobody is thinking anymore. Nobody important.

Roman history and Plato should be required reading, Idiocracy required viewing. (imo)
What the hell are you even on about? Monkey men watching porn? What?
 

CGiRanger

Banned
I do laugh at the "We need to Diversify" voices just in the face of the fact that the one person who's name kicked things off from the lawsuit was Alex A. who's Middle Eastern/Iranian.

Basically, Diversity means shit when it comes to bad behavior. And you can bet many of the women at these companies are equally vicious (Pick a random colored/highlighted haired rep on twitter (pronouns in bio for added bonus) and scour through their tweets and convince yourselves that these people are "wholly moral and virtuous")
 
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Cyberpunkd

Gold Member
I'd be all for this. To me there is no reason to have alcohol in a work environment or at officially sanctioned work events.
Your employees are adults, you treat them as such. Surely you are not advocating now for a company playing the role of a parent?

I agree with Asmongold: if what you are doing makes a woman uncomfortable you stop, it’s not that hard not to be a PoS.
 
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Nobody_Important

“Aww, it’s so...average,” she said to him in a cold brick of passion
Your employees are adults, you treat them as such. Surely you are not advocating now for a company playing the role of a parent?

I agree with Asmongold: if what you are doing makes a woman uncomfortable you stop, it’s not that hard not to be a PoS.
Asmongold also said that alcohol just makes things worse and brings out the worst in people.

Do you agree with that?
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
It is very much a poison that causes a myriad of bad effects on the human body. From behavioral changes to negative effects internally.

So I'd say yes it does tend to make things worse. Both physically and emotionally.
I agree.

You get some people who seem immune and drink all night with no effect and some people are happy drunks.

But way more people out there who get tipsy and shitfaced. Actually harmless as they just need to go to bed. But in a work setting looks bad.

Lucky for me I have never seen or known an angry drunk.
 
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